MHC Structure

MHC: Contents

"MHC" stands for Major Histocompatibility Complex, a complex of genes coding for a family of proteins, many of which function in the immune system. This tutorial deals with two members of the family, MHC classes I and II.

Details: Why histocompatibility?

Introduction to Protein Visualization

Glycine Representations

Peptides and Backbones

Disulfide Bonds

QUESTIONS to challenge your understanding apper in this green color in the chapters below. They are also available separately for printing handouts, LESSON PLAN included.

Extracellular Domains & Epitope

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Explore further the molecule(s) in this Tutorial:

Glycine: glycine.pdb in FirstGlance in Jmol. This molecule appears in Chapter 1. This molecule is not available, at least in the form shown here, from the PDB.
Quadrapeptide KAIT (from 1rog): pepb27_4.pdb in FirstGlance in Jmol. This molecule appears in Chapter 2. This molecule is not available, at least in the form shown here, from the PDB.
Disulfide bond between 2 pentapeptides (from 2ig2): s-s.pdb in FirstGlance in Jmol. This molecule appears in Chapter 3. This molecule is not available, at least in the form shown here, from the PDB.
Mouse MHC Class I (H-2K^b) with nonapeptide from Sendai virus nucleoprotein: 2vab in Proteopedia or in FirstGlance in Jmol. This molecule appears in Chapters 4, 5, 6.
Mouse MHC Class I (H-2K^b) with octapeptide from VSV nucleoprotein: 2vaa in Proteopedia or in FirstGlance in Jmol. This molecule appears in Chapter 6.
Both virus peptides, compared: pepboth.pdb in FirstGlance in Jmol. This molecule appears in Chapter 6. This molecule is not available, at least in the form shown here, from the PDB.
Human MHC Class II (HLA-DR1) with 13 amino acid peptide from influenza hemagglutinin: 1dlh in Proteopedia or in FirstGlance in Jmol. This molecule appears in Chapter 7.

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Open Access
You are encouraged to link to this Tutorial, for which permission is not required. Educators using this Tutorial in teaching are asked to let the author(s) know by email (emartz AT microbio DOT umass DOT edu). The author(s) will also appreciate receiving your suggestions for improvement.

This Tutorial was made with the Jmol Tutorial-Authoring Template (JTAT)

License

This Tutorial is copyright © 2010 by Eric Martz, and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution - Noncommercial - Share Alike 3.0 License. Copies of this Tutorial are available on request from the author, should you wish to put it on your own server, or modify the content.

History This tutorial was first developed as a RasMol Movie Script in December, 1995. In November, 1997, it was ported to a "Two Frame Chime Tutorial", and some improvements were made in early 1998. In August, 2010, it was ported to Jmol with further improvements.
[JTAT version: September 8, 2010.]